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Poloxamer-based hydrogels hardening at body core temperature as carriers for cell based therapies: in vitro and in vivo analysis

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Abstract

Cell-based regenerative therapies for bone defects usually employ bone precursor cells seeded on solid scaffolds. Thermosensitive hydrogels that harden at body core temperature are promising alternative cell carriers as they are applicable minimally invasively. We modified Pluronic® P123 with different chain extenders and assessed rheology and biocompatibility of the resulting hydrogels. The best candidate was tested in a rat’s femoral defect model. All gels hardened above 25 °C with butane-diisocyanate-hydrogels (BDI-gels) displaying the highest storage moduli. BDI-gels showed the most favourable biocompatibility and did not affect cellular adipogenic or osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Implantation of BDI-hydrogel into femoral defects did not impede bone healing in vivo as evidenced by μCT and histological analysis. We conclude that thermosensitive BDI-gels are promising alternative cell carriers. The gels harden upon injection in vivo without interfering with bone metabolism. Further experiments will assess the gels’ capacity to effectively transport living cells into bone defects.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a research Grant from the Bavarian Research Foundation (Bavarian Research Cooperation ForZebRA-cell-based regeneration for the musculoskeletal system in old age (www.forzebra.de)). The authors thank Johanna Lindermayer and Claudia Harbauer for technical assistance. This study is part of the doctoral thesis of Uta Leicht and published with permission of Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Nussbaumstr. 20, 80336, Munich, Germany

    Elias Volkmer, Uta Leicht, Martina Moritz, Christina Schwarz & Matthias Schieker

  2. PolyMaterials AG, Innovapark 20, 87600, Kaufbeuren, Germany

    Hinrich Wiese

  3. Anatomische Anstalt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Pettenkoferstr. 11, 80336, Munich, Germany

    Stefan Milz

  4. Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstr. 5, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Philipp Matthias, Winfried Schloegl & Wolfgang Friess

  5. Institute of Biomechanics, Trauma Center Murnau, Prof.-Küntscher-Str. 8, 82418, Murnau, Germany

    Michael Goettlinger & Peter Augat

  6. LivImplant GmbH, Truhenseeweg 8, 82319, Starnberg, Germany

    Matthias Schieker

Authors
  1. Elias Volkmer
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  2. Uta Leicht
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  3. Martina Moritz
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  4. Christina Schwarz
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  5. Hinrich Wiese
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  7. Philipp Matthias
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  8. Winfried Schloegl
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  9. Wolfgang Friess
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  10. Michael Goettlinger
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  11. Peter Augat
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  12. Matthias Schieker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthias Schieker.

Additional information

Elias Volkmer and Uta Leicht have contributed equally to this study.

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Volkmer, E., Leicht, U., Moritz, M. et al. Poloxamer-based hydrogels hardening at body core temperature as carriers for cell based therapies: in vitro and in vivo analysis. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 24, 2223–2234 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-013-4966-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-013-4966-6

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